The Bengals’ win over Miami came with a couple of league-issued receipts.
Erick All and Jordan Battle were each fined for separate plays in Sunday’s 31-24 victory, according to Jay Morrison. Morrison posted that “Erick All Jr. fined $7,073 for an unnecessary roughness penalty against Miami. Jordan Battle fined $21,623 for illegal use of helmet.”
Cincinnati leaned into a physical game against one of the NFL’s few winless teams, and both players were part of that edge as the Bengals moved to 3-2 on the year. The matchup was tight from start to finish and featured the kind of heavy contact that often brings a flag along with it.
Afterward, Taylor pointed to the conditions in Miami as a major factor. “Nothing really at this point in October gets you ready for this heat.
Somebody told me it started as the hottest game here in October history, which I can attest to,” Taylor said after the win. “I've coached here for four years, and this was, I mean, in pregame, I was worn out.
Our players fought through that, and I made that statement to them because I know they're dead tired right now. I didn't want them to think that's just in their mind, like, what's wrong with me?
It was a hot day, and they battled through it, and they found a way to win. I don't discount that at all.”
Cincinnati now gets a little breathing room before getting back to work. The team has a couple more days off and returns to practice Monday as it starts preparing for what comes next.
Taylor also addressed the timing of the bye week and why it can help this group right now. “You kind of like it more towards Thanksgiving,” Taylor said about the bye week placement on Monday. “But I do think just where our team is right now, and the way that these last three games have gone down to the wire, and guys playing through some stuff right now, it is a good time to get a bye and get our legs back underneath us, get some guys healthy, and go full force when we come back for Baltimore.”
The Ravens are up next Sunday in Baltimore.
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Turner stands out as the one the Bengals appear most motivated to protect, while the rest of the group could end up in the category of productive but replaceable if the price climbs too high. Cincinnati has never shied away from letting useful players walk when it believes it can redirect resources elsewhere, and this class could become the next test of how far that approach can stretch before the turnover starts to alter the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]